Adjustable reusable tubing end fitting

ABSTRACT

A fitting for releasably securing a hose or tube onto a tubular insert positioned therein comprising a collar and ring positionable on the exterior of the hose and each including mutually cooperating camming surfaces adapted to radially constrict the collar and thereby lock the hose on the insert when the ring is pushed over the collar and adapted to release the hose when the ring is pulled from the collar.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,868,130

Schwertner et al. Feb. 25, 1975 ADJUSTABLE REUSABLE TUBING END FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS FITTING 913,160 12/1962 Great Britain 285/243 [75] Inventors: Gary Schwertner; Russell-M 328,787 5/1930 Great Bntam 285/243 Zajaczkowski, both of Cleveland, Ohio- Pnmary Examiner-Dave W. Arola Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McNenny, Farrington, [73] Assignee: The Weatherhead Company; peame & G d

Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Aug. 16, 1971 57 ABSTRACT [21] App 172,036 A fitting for releasably securing a hose or tube onto a tubular insert positioned therein comprising a collar [52] US. Cl. 285/243, 285/323 and ring posilionable the exterior of the hose and 51 1111. c1. F16] 33/00 each including ly ooperatin Camming sur- [58] Field of Search 285/243, 248, 249, 322, faces adapted radially comm the collar and 285/323 382 242, 245 246 247 250 thereby lock the hose on the insert when the ring is pushed over the collar and adapted to release the hose 5 References Cited when the ring is pulled from the collar.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,191,975 6/1965 LaMarre et al 285/243 3,222,091 I2/l965 Marshall 285/243 x 9 s- D awing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to end fittings for flexible hose or tubing and more particularly, it relates to a novel reusable fitting assembly forsuch hose.

The fitting of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with non-rigid tubing such as rubber or plastic tubing, e.g., polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, or nylon tubing. The fitting is especially suited for hydraulic or pneumatic systems operating at relatively low to moderate pressure or vacuum. Examples of such systems are instrumentation, test apparatus, and controls. The invention provides significant advantages in situations where circuits are frequently changed or disconnected such as in developmental work involving experimental circuits. It is to be understood that, according to common usage, the term tubing applies to an unreinforced flexible product and the term hose applies to reinforced tubing. A fitting constructed in accordance with the invention is compatible with either of these products and, therefore, the terms are used interchangeably herein.

PRIOR ART A common type of hose fitting for low pressure applications is the fitting type which includes a member with an elongated tubular portion adapted to be axially inserted into a hose end and which includes on its outer surface one or more annular saw tooth ribs or barbs. The barbs of the fitting are intended to internally grip the hose and prevent it from pulling off of the fitting. This type of fitting is somewhat limited in the types of tubing with which it may be employed. The tubing must be relatively elastic to insure a reliable connection. In addition, it is often necessary, in order to disassemble the fitting from the hose, to cut the hose and thereby destroy a portion. Further, this fitting type is usable only under relatively low pressure conditions.

Also previously used with plastic or other flexible hose is the compression type of fitting. The fitting, ordinarily, comprises a fitting body, a compression ring, and a nut threadable onto the fitting body to radially compress the ring around the tube. This second type of fitting is, generally, relatively expensive to produce. Further, hose may not be assembled with the fitting via a simple axial motion but, rather, the nut must be wrenched or otherwise turned onto the fitting body until the three piece assembly is drawn tight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a novel hose end fitting for releasably securing a hose to a tubular insert. The fitting comprises a ring and collar which are slipped over a hose end and which cooperate to radially constrict the hose onto the tubular insert. The ring and collar each include camming surfaces which, through mutual engagement when the ring is pushed over the collar, cause the collar to tighten and constrict radially on the hose. The ring is quickly and easily positioned on the collar by axial movement of the ring relative to the collar. This movement may be effected manually without requiring the use of tools. Similarly, the ring may be quickly removed from the collar by simply reversing the axial force applied. Removal of the ring from the collar releases the grip of the collar on the hose and the interference between the hose andinsert so that the hose and insert may be separated.

The fitting itself is reusable and the gripped portion of the hose is not permanently deformed or otherwise altered by the use of the fitting. In its preferred form, the fitting is adjustable to accommodate normal dimensional variations in hose or tubing and insert as well as the type of flexible material and to allow a desired tightness of fit to be selected. In this preferred form, the fitting is simple in construction and may be economically produced, for instance, by molding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an axially exploded perspective view of a hose end fitting assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of an upper portion of the fitting assembly in an installed condition.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the contact area between the ring and collar of the fitting assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the Figures, there is shown a hose fitting assembly 10 embodying the present invention and including a hose 1 l, a tubular insert 12, a collar 13, and a ring 14. The hose 11 may be formed, for instance, as an extrusion of non-rigid or flexible plastic or elastomeric material such as rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride or the like. The hose or tube 11 is circular in cross section and has substantially uniform inside and outside diameters 16 and 17, respectively, along its entire length. The axis of the hose fitting 10 is shown at 15 in FIG. 2.

The tubular insert 12 includes an elongated nipple portion 22 extending from an enlarged head portion 23. An axial bore or passage 24 runs through both the head and nipple portions of the insert 12. An outside surface 26 of the nipple portion 22, preferably, has a diameter substantially equal to the nominal inside diameter of the hose 11. As illustrated, the exterior surface 26 of the nipple portion 22 is cylindrical. Where it is necessary or desirable, the exterior surface 26 of the nipple may be formed with one or more circumferential ribs to improve sealing characteristics of the fitting assembly 10.

The head portion 23 of the insert 12 may be internally threaded with a straight or tapered pipe thread, for instance, to form a female connector adapted to be threaded onto a threaded male element of a fluid circuit. An outer periphery 28 of the head portion 23 is formed with wrench flats 29 defining a hexagonal cross section. At the base or outer end of the nipple portion 22 of the insert, the head portion 23 provides a surface or shoulder 31, ideally, extending in a radial plane. The tubular insert 12 may be formed of any suitable material, for instance, metal or plastic and may be formed by machining, molding, or the like.

The collar 13 is a cone shaped member having an axial aperture or bore 36, preferably, cylindrical through its length. The diameter of the cylindrical bore 36 is substantially equal to the nominal outside diameter 17 of the hose 1]. At a rearward or inner end, the collar 13 forms a circumferentially continuous, short cylindrical section 37 having a relatively thin wall of generally uniform thickness. In a' forward direction =1 from the cylindrical section 37,.lthe collar increasesin a its outside diameter, ideally, in a series of steps; Each] step comprises atapered or conical surface .41 and am land surface 42, Each conical surface. ,4l'lis tapered such that its diameter generally increases in size in reference to a direction towards a forward or outerend 45 o in the. forward direction. For reasons which will be made apparentpbelow, itmay be desirable to. provide I V the land surfaces 42 with a slight taper reversed from the taper direction of the conical surfaces 41.;From the above description and fromthe figures 'it may be appreciated that'the mean or average "diameter of each successive conical surface dlincreases in the forward direction towards theouter end. 45hr the collar. 7

At the extreme inner end,the cylindricalgsection 37 I i of the collar 13 is beveled at 47 to facilitate positioning of thering 14 on the exterior of thecollar 13. At the opposite or outer end 45,the collar terminates in an end face 48, generally,'lying in a radial plane. One or.

more slots. 51 extend longitudinally from'the end face c 48 to the inner cylindrical section 37 and radially from the central aperture or bore 36 outwardly to the. exte tion 22 of the insert 12 is sufficiently long to internally support the hose ll in anaxial zone encircled by'the,

collar l3.The collar 13 isformed of resiliently deformable plastic or elastomeric material such asrubber,

' rior surfaces 41 and 42 of the collar 13; The. nippleporf polyethylene, polypropylene'nylon, polyvinyl chloride 1 or the'llke andtmay be produced by molding or otherwise forming such material into the desired shape. 1

The ring .or sleeve 14 is adaptedrto be pushed onto the exterior of the collar '13. The ring 14 is circular in shape and includes a generally cylindrical outer surface I V 56 defining the major diameter of the ring. A central passage through the ring 14 isdefined by a pair of opposed conical surfaces Stl and a cylindrical bore 59' therebetween. On each side of the ring .4 there is prov thus be assembled with either of its end faces 61 facing 1 the head portion 23 of the insert 12. The cylindrical bore 59 of the ring 14, ideally, is slightly lairgerthan the outside of the cylindrical section 37 of the collar .13 to 7 permit the ring to initially be slipped easily onto the collar. The ring may be economically formed by molds ingot machining it to shape and may be made of any proportions which will substantially prevent an increase in diameter when assembled on the collar.

of the materials indicated above forthe collar 13 in To assemble the hose fitting 10 the ring 14 is first slipped over the end of the hose ll andnext thecollar l3 is slipped over the end ofthe hosewiththe cylindriface 41 110 cam; the collar radially inward as the ringjl l i moves axially relative to thelcolla r"l3iConstriction of i the collar l3'causesjthehoseflll to be radiallycompressed and locked onto the insert lLThe ring 14? is pushed axially forward until a particular land surface 42 is reached togivea desired tightness'or'loclring of l the hose lion the insert 12. Generally, thetightnessof the. grip of the collarylSon the hose ills proportional I to the diameterofa selected land surface 42,,The final f landsurface d2 chosen will dependbm among other factors, .theactual relative sizes of the insert mans; hose l 1,.the hardnessfor stiffness of the hose, the ere j pected pressure in theghos'e, and the permanency ofithe connection ofthe hosewith the insert. The longitudinal] slotor slots Slperm it the collar13 to b radially coni 'strictedwith.a minimumamountof compression of the collar rnaterial and thereby minimizes .theaxial force onthe ring 14. necessary. to constrict-thehose lll,

FIG. 3 more clearly illustratesthe manner in which the rin'g 14 engages the collar l3,when finally posis "tioned thereon. Radial compression of the collar 13 by,

the ringc14 causes deformation of the particular land 1 surface 42 on which therring rests. ideally; a land surface 42 is distorted slightly intoa reverse taper Opp site V I from that of the conical surfaces dillso that an edge 66 of the ring-14, forrned by itsr bore S9 and the trailing or. V inner conical surface 58, locks on the land surfacedZ and thereby retainsthe ringon the c'ollaragainst normal service loading. ,Toinsure, that thefringold is re-q .tainedinthis manner, it may be desired to initially form the land surfaces 42 with aslight reverse taper. In any event, itmay be seen thatthe land surfaces 42,,by not havingsaytaper or inclination in the same; directionas the'fconical surfaces 41,110 not allow tensile forces in thering 1.4 to move the ring rearward towards the inner end 37 of the collar and therebyaccidentally: release the hose 1!. V i

From the above description it should be understood that'the fitting members 1244 may be installed on the hose ll manually, without the use of tools, if desired The actual gripping or locking of the hose ill on the insert ll2fis quickly accomplished by manuaily'pushing the ring 14 onto the collar 13, by engaging therearward endface 61, without the need forextraneous motions such as twisting or turning the ring This procedure may be simply reversed by manually pullingthe ring lid off the collar 13,'by engaging the forward end face bl, 'to quickly'release the hose 11 from the insert 12. Be-

cause the operation of the coupling of this inventionrm quires no piermanentdeformation of either thev hose or the coupling members, it is recognized thatboth the: hose and the coupling members may be disassembled and reused'and individualparts may be replaced asde- Although a preferred'embodiinent ofthis invention is, illustratedit is to beunderstood'th'at various modifical section 31 facing the ring 14. The hose 11 and insert 12 are joined by pushing the hpse 11 over the nipple portion 22 of the insert until an end face-63 of the hose abuts'or bottoms on the radial shoulder 31 of:thehead portion 23 0f the insert. Thejcollar 13 is slippedforward until its end face lll'abuts the radial shoulder 31' of the insert head 23. Finally, the ring 14 is pushed with cationsand rearrangementsofpartsmay be re'sorted'to the invention dis w without departing from the scope of closed and claimedherein. V

What is claimed is: j

l. A fitting assembly for aflexible hose comprising a tubular insert having an elongated portionof generally I citcular crosssection, aflexiblehose having 'subs'tam t ially uniform inside and outside diameters at one of its V ends, lll'B QUtET surfaceof said. insertportion defining a diameter substantially equal tothe inside diameter of the end of said hose, said insert portion being positioned within the end of said hose to internally support it, a resiliently deformable tubular collar defining a first clamping member, said collar having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the hose and outer peripheral surface means, said collar being positioned over the end of said hose with at least a portion of the collar forming said surface means within an axial zone of said hose supported by said insert portion, a ring element defining a second clamping member, said ring element having an aperture therethrough at least large enough to permit said hose to extend therethrough, said ring element having internal surface means adapted to cooperate with said collar surface means, the surface means of one of said clamping members including axially separate zones, a first of said zones being axially tapered outwardly in a forward direction towards said hose end, a second of said zones adjacent said first zone having less outward taper in said forward direction than said first zone, said first zone causing said collar to radially constrict when said ring element is pushed axially forward onto said collar to thereby grip said hose and lockingly compress the hose onto said insert portion, said ring being releasably retained on said collar by frictional engagement of said second zone with the surface means of the other of said clamping members, said surface means of said members permitting removal of said ring element from said collar and release of said hose from said insert when said ring element is pulled rearwardly off of said collar.

2. A fitting assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said collar member is longitudinally split in the axial direction of said hose in a zone defined by its surface means.

3. A fitting assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surface means of one of said clamping members includes at least one conical generally circular surface increasing in diameter towards the end of said hose and at least one generally circular surface not substantially increasing in diameter towards said hose end.

4. A fitting for clamping a flexible hose onto an insert positioned in the hose comprising a resiliently deformable tubular collar having a cylindrical interior defining a normal inside diameter of the collar, a stepped'diameter exterior including a plurality of circular conical surfaces each increasing in diameter along a common axial direction and alternating with intervening surfaces not substantially increasing in diameter in said axial direction, each successive conical surface and each intervening surface having a mean diameter larger than the preceding conical surface and intervening surface respectively, and a longitudinal slot extending axially substantially through a major portion of the length of the collar and radially substantially from the interior to the exterior of the collar, a circularly continuous ring adapted to be positioned over the exterior of the collar, said ring having a circular through bore sized to permit the ring to be positioned on the exterior of the collar to engage one of said intervening surfaces with an interference fit and thereby cause the inside diameter of the collar to decrease from said normal diameter, said ring including opposed generally radial end faces providing manual gripping surfaces engageable for pushing the ring on and pulling the ring from said collar.

5. A fitting as set forth in claim 4 wherein said ring is symmetrical about a plane transverse to its axis and said bore includes at each end a conical surface thereby permitting said ring to be guided on said collar with either of its end faces facing towards said collar.

6. A hose end fitting for a flexible hose comprising a tubular insert having an elongated portion of a generally circular cross section, a flexible hose having substantially uniform inside and outside diameters adja-, cent an end, the outer surface of said insert portion defining a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the end of said hose, said insert portion being positioned within the end of said hose to internally support it, a resiliently deformable tubular collar having a normal inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the hose end, said collar having a stepped diameter exterior including a plurality of conical surfaces each increasing in diameter along a common axial direction and alternating with intervening surfaces not substantially increasing in diameter in said axial direction, each successive conical surface and each successive intervening surface having a mean diameter larger than the preceding conical surface or intervening surface respectively, and a longitudinal slot extending axially through a major portion of the length of the collar and radially from the interior to the exterior of the collar, said collar being positioned over the end of said hose with at least a portion of the collar forming said stepped diameter exterior, within an axial zone of said hose supported by said insert portion, a circularly continuous ring positioned on the exterior of the'collar, said ring having a circular bore sized to produce an interference fit with one of said intervening surfaces and cause the inside diameter of the collar to decrease from said normal inside diameter and to thereby cause said hose to constrict radially onto said insert portion and be locked thereto, said ring including opposed generally radial end faces providing manual gripping surfaces engageable for pushing the ring on and pulling the ring from said collar, removal of said ring from said collar causing release of said hose from said insert.

7. A hose end fitting as set forth in claim 6 wherein said intervening surfaces are normally substantially cylindrical, and said bore ofsaid ring includes a substantially cylindrical portion.

8. A hose end fitting as set forth in claim 7 wherein said longitudinal slot extends rearwardly from an end of said collar adjacent the end of said hose and terminates at a point short of the other end of said collar, said collar including a circularly continuous portion at said other end.

9. A fitting assembly for a flexible hose comprising a tubular insert having an elongated portion of generally circular cross section, a flexible hose having substantially uniform inside and outside diameters at one of its ends, the outer surface of said insert portion defining a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the end of said hose, said insert portion being positioned within the end of said hose to internally support it, a resiliently deformable tubular collar defining a first clamping member, said collar having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the hose, said collar having an outer peripheral surface means, said collar being positioned over the end of said hose with at least a portion of the collar forming said surface means within an axial zone of said hose supported by said insert portion, a ring element defining a second clamping member, said ring element having an aperture therethrough at least large enough to permit said hose to eittend therethrough, saidring element having internal surface means co-operating with said collar surface means to cause said collar to radially constrict when said ring element is pushed axially forwardonto 1 said collar to thereby grip said hose and lockingly compress the hose onto said insert portion, the surface 7 means of one of said clamping members comprising a series of tapered surfaces individuallytapered radially outward in a direction towards said hose end andincreasing in size with respect to each other in said direcwardly off of said collar.

ing in size in saiddirection, said ring being releasably retained on said collar by cooperation of said surface means, said surface means permitting removal of said ring element from said collar and release of said hose from said insert when said ring element is pulled rear-w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT N0. 1 3,868,130 DATED February 25, 1975 |NVENTQR(S) Schwertner & Zajaczkowski It is certified that error appears in the above-rdentifted patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown beiow:

Under the caption "What is claimed is:" Column 6, Claim 8,

Line 44, change "7" to 6 Signed and sealed this 37th day of June 1975.

(SEAL Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks RUTH C. B-tASON Attesting Officer 

1. A fitting assembly for a flexible hose comprising a tubular insert having an elongated portion of generally circular cross section, a flexible hose having substantially uniform inside and outside diameters at one of its ends, the outer surface of said insert portion defining a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the end of said hose, said insert portion being positioned within the end of said hose to internally support it, a resiliently deformable tubular collar defining a first clamping member, said collar having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the hose and outer peripheral surface means, said collar being positioned over the end of said hose with at least a portion of the collar forming said surface means within an axial zone of said hose supported by said insert portion, a ring element defining a second clamping member, said ring element having an aperture therethrough at least large enough to permit said hose to extend therethrough, said ring element having internal surface means adapted to cooperate with said collar surface means, the surface means of one of said clamping members including axially separate zones, a first of said zones being axially tapered outwardly in a forward direction towards said hose end, a second of said zones adjacent said first zone having less outward taper in said forward direction than said first zone, said first zone causing said collar to radially constrict when said ring element is pushed axially Forward onto said collar to thereby grip said hose and lockingly compress the hose onto said insert portion, said ring being releasably retained on said collar by frictional engagement of said second zone with the surface means of the other of said clamping members, said surface means of said members permitting removal of said ring element from said collar and release of said hose from said insert when said ring element is pulled rearwardly off of said collar.
 2. A fitting assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said collar member is longitudinally split in the axial direction of said hose in a zone defined by its surface means.
 3. A fitting assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surface means of one of said clamping members includes at least one conical generally circular surface increasing in diameter towards the end of said hose and at least one generally circular surface not substantially increasing in diameter towards said hose end.
 4. A fitting for clamping a flexible hose onto an insert positioned in the hose comprising a resiliently deformable tubular collar having a cylindrical interior defining a normal inside diameter of the collar, a stepped diameter exterior including a plurality of circular conical surfaces each increasing in diameter along a common axial direction and alternating with intervening surfaces not substantially increasing in diameter in said axial direction, each successive conical surface and each intervening surface having a mean diameter larger than the preceding conical surface and intervening surface respectively, and a longitudinal slot extending axially substantially through a major portion of the length of the collar and radially substantially from the interior to the exterior of the collar, a circularly continuous ring adapted to be positioned over the exterior of the collar, said ring having a circular through bore sized to permit the ring to be positioned on the exterior of the collar to engage one of said intervening surfaces with an interference fit and thereby cause the inside diameter of the collar to decrease from said normal diameter, said ring including opposed generally radial end faces providing manual gripping surfaces engageable for pushing the ring on and pulling the ring from said collar.
 5. A fitting as set forth in claim 4 wherein said ring is symmetrical about a plane transverse to its axis and said bore includes at each end a conical surface thereby permitting said ring to be guided on said collar with either of its end faces facing towards said collar.
 6. A hose end fitting for a flexible hose comprising a tubular insert having an elongated portion of a generally circular cross section, a flexible hose having substantially uniform inside and outside diameters adjacent an end, the outer surface of said insert portion defining a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the end of said hose, said insert portion being positioned within the end of said hose to internally support it, a resiliently deformable tubular collar having a normal inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the hose end, said collar having a stepped diameter exterior including a plurality of conical surfaces each increasing in diameter along a common axial direction and alternating with intervening surfaces not substantially increasing in diameter in said axial direction, each successive conical surface and each successive intervening surface having a mean diameter larger than the preceding conical surface or intervening surface respectively, and a longitudinal slot extending axially through a major portion of the length of the collar and radially from the interior to the exterior of the collar, said collar being positioned over the end of said hose with at least a portion of the collar forming said stepped diameter exterior, within an axial zone of said hose supported by said insert portion, a circularly continuous ring positioned on the exterior of the collar, said ring having a circular bore sIzed to produce an interference fit with one of said intervening surfaces and cause the inside diameter of the collar to decrease from said normal inside diameter and to thereby cause said hose to constrict radially onto said insert portion and be locked thereto, said ring including opposed generally radial end faces providing manual gripping surfaces engageable for pushing the ring on and pulling the ring from said collar, removal of said ring from said collar causing release of said hose from said insert.
 7. A hose end fitting as set forth in claim 6 wherein said intervening surfaces are normally substantially cylindrical, and said bore of said ring includes a substantially cylindrical portion.
 8. A hose end fitting as set forth in claim 7 wherein said longitudinal slot extends rearwardly from an end of said collar adjacent the end of said hose and terminates at a point short of the other end of said collar, said collar including a circularly continuous portion at said other end.
 9. A fitting assembly for a flexible hose comprising a tubular insert having an elongated portion of generally circular cross section, a flexible hose having substantially uniform inside and outside diameters at one of its ends, the outer surface of said insert portion defining a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the end of said hose, said insert portion being positioned within the end of said hose to internally support it, a resiliently deformable tubular collar defining a first clamping member, said collar having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the hose, said collar having an outer peripheral surface means, said collar being positioned over the end of said hose with at least a portion of the collar forming said surface means within an axial zone of said hose supported by said insert portion, a ring element defining a second clamping member, said ring element having an aperture therethrough at least large enough to permit said hose to extend therethrough, said ring element having internal surface means co-operating with said collar surface means to cause said collar to radially constrict when said ring element is pushed axially forward onto said collar to thereby grip said hose and lockingly compress the hose onto said insert portion, the surface means of one of said clamping members comprising a series of tapered surfaces individually tapered radially outward in a direction towards said hose end and increasing in size with respect to each other in said direction, said tapered surfaces alternating with intervening surfaces individually not substantially increasing in size in said direction and with respect to each other increasing in size in said direction, said ring being releasably retained on said collar by cooperation of said surface means, said surface means permitting removal of said ring element from said collar and release of said hose from said insert when said ring element is pulled rearwardly off of said collar. 